Magnetic connecter



C. B. COATES MAGNETIC CONNECTER June 24 1924.

Filed May 18, 1922 Patent tie re s.

CHARLES R. COATES, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ICAGO PNEUMATIC TOOL COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. 2., A CORPORATION OF NEW Y0.

mnemonic comrno'rna.

Application filed may 18, 1922. Serial No. 561,801.

To all whom it may camera.

Be it known that 1, CHARLES B. Courts, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, county of Erie, and State of Pennsyl- Vania, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in Magnetic Connectors, of which the following is a specification.

lhis invention relates to magnetic connecters and more. particularly to a novel and simple connecter adapted to magnetically adhere to an electrical conductor without the use of bolts, clamps, orother mechanical fastening devices which would require the employment of a wrench, etc., .or manual manipulation. A further object of my invention is to construct the magnetic connecter so that it is adapted to form part of the electric circuit and a terminal through which the current is supplied. My invention is peculiarly adapted for use in connection with electric railway construction, and while it has uses in connection with innumerable other kinds of workl will describe its use in connection with such construction, merely for the sake of convenience and by way of illustration. Electrical portable tools, such as drills, grinders and spike drivers, are

- used to a large extent in constructing and repairing electric railway and the equipment therefor and one terminal of the ground wire.on the tool is usually connected to one of the rails (which form the ground or return circuit). The surface of the pavement, particularly in cities, is usually even with the tops of the rails so that it.is practically impossible to clamp or mechanically attach a connector to the rail. As a make-shift,

a workman usually connects a bolt or piece of metal to the ground wire or cable on the I to tool and lays it on the rail, which is not satisfactory as there is nothing to firml hold the bolt or piece of metal on the rail and the connection is not satisfactory electrically. With my invention it is only necessary to bring the permanent magnets of the connecter into engagement with the rail or other electric conductor and the magnets cause the connecter to strongly adhere to the rail. One terminal of a coil, forming part of the electrical circuit throu h the electric tool, or other device, is groun ed to the core of my connecter so that when the electric device is started the currentpasses through the electric tool thence through the core and magnet so that the connecter becomes a very strong electromagnet due to the current passing through the coil. Hence 9. connecter, constructed in accordance with my invention, is quickly and easily attached to the electrical conductor by the mere act of placing the connecter thereon and at the same time the connecter constitutes a ground connection for the electric current.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a connecter, embodying my invention and showing the coil in cross section; and

Fig. 2 is in the nature of a diagrammatic view showing the connecter resting on a railway rail and in association with an electric tool.

Referring to the drawings, the connecter comprises two permanent magnets 3 to the opposite ends of which an iron core 4;, preferably of soft iron, is attached, the magnets being secured to the core by screws 5 and washers 5'. Wound around the core is a coil 6 having one terminal 7, the inner one, grounded to the core while the outer one 8 is connected to the cable 9 leading from the electric portable tool 10 of any construction or kind. Disks of insulating material 11 are positioned between the ends of the coil 6 and the magnets 3. As shown in Fig. 2, the permanent magnets 3 are adapted to rest on top of the rail 14, shown in cross section. In this view the paving 12 is shown on both sides of the real as having its uppersurface practically even with the top of the rail. The wire 13 leading to the electric tool is usually connected at its upper end to the trolley wire, when the connecter is used in electric railway work.

From the above description it is obvious thatthe permanent magnets 3 cause the connecter to adhere with considerable force to the rail and that when the electric tool is started the current passes from the trolley wire through the wire 13 and the tool thence through the wire 9, terminal 8, the coil 6, terminal 7 the core 4 and the magnets 3 to the rail. The current causes the connecter to become a very strong electromagnet so that the connecter adheres to the rail with great tenacity. Permanent magnets in time lose their magnetism to a considerable extent, but each time my mag netic connecter is used these magnets are re-magnetized so that they are always well magnetized which causes the connecter to adhere strongly to the rail even when the tool is not in operation. My connecter not only forms a magnetic connecter but is adapted to constitute the ground connection for the electrical circuit passing through the electric tool or other device. The use of clamps, wrenches, etc., and tools for attaching a connecter to the electrical conductor, when the conductor is such as to permit such an attachment, is dispensed with, thus saving considerable time and expense 3 and eliminating inconvenience, annoyance and danger. Where bolts, clamps or other securing devices cannot be employed, as in the above describedexamplle, a connecter embodying my invention as even greater utility.

I c aim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a permanent magnet adapted to be magnetically attached to an electrical conductor forming part of the electrical circuit, and a coil associated with said magnet and having one termmal electrically connected thereto.

2. In a device of the class described a core, permanent magnets secured to' said core and adapted to be magnetically attached to an electrical conductor forming part of the electrical circuit and a coil wound around the core and having one terminal grounded thereto. 7

3. In a device of the class described, the, combination of a magnetiza'ble core, permanent magnets directly secured toand' supporting opposite ends of the core and adapted to be magnetically secured to an electrical conductor and'a coil forming part of the electrical circuit and having the inner terminal grounded to said core while the outer terminal is adapted to be connected to mespea .an electrical' device to be operated by the I with an electrical conductor, said means comprising a member of magnetizable material having a coil associated therewith, the terminals of said coil being electrically connected to said member and to said device respectively.

' 6. The combination with an electrically operated device of a connecter therefor comprising a permanent magnet adapted to be magnetically attached to an electrical conductor forming a part of the circuit of the device, and a coil associated with said magnet and having its terminals electrically connected to said magnet and to said device. respectively.

7. The combination with an electrically operated tool of a connecter therefor comprising a' core, permanent magnets secured to said core and adapted to be magnetically attached to an electrical conductor forming apart of the circuit of the tool, and a coil wound around the core and having its terminals electrically connected to said core and to said tool respectively.

CHARLES B. COATES. 

